we are planning first trip to Italy, family of four, last week of March and first part of April, 18 nights. Flying into Venice, departing from Rome. Will rent auto in Florence or Chiusi. Plan to spend week in apt. Pienza area, haven't decided which town. Would like to visit Voltera and Chianti area, may train to Florence from Poggibonsi. Question is, am considering renting apt also after week near Pienza area, in Colle Val d' Elsa to visit Voltera, Chianti and Florence but would these towns be fairly easy day trips
from Pienza area as well? Or does renting
in Colle Val d' Elsa for 3-5 days seem smarter. We don't really want to be on the road after dark unless close by our accomodations. Last leg of trip will be 3-4 nights in Rome. Thought of trying to work in Amalfi Coast before Rome and after week near Pienza but may be too much traveling for us and so
may just add those extra days to Tuscany. Appreciate thoughts on intinerary.

We (three) rented an apartment for a week near Montalcino - http://www.larasina.it - and were very pleased with it.

However, we found it to be a bit much to 'commute' along the not-so-attractive Via Cassia (S2) to get to the Siena area and beyond.

Were we to do it over again, I'd base ourselves closer to Siena (or Colle di Val d'Elsa) thereby being more centrally located.

i would take the map of tuscany, mark all towns i want to visit and choose an apartment somewhere in the center of the area. you will hardly be an 1,5 hour away form every little town you want to visit. i prefer this solution to moving to another apartment for 3 or 4 days...

It looks as though Volterra would be about the farthest from Pienza of the places you mention. mappy.com says that it's 1 hr 40 mins. to drive that route, so that should give you an idea of time on the road. If that's too long for you, split up the time between Pienza and somewhere closer to Volterra. If it's not too much time, Pienza is a great place to stay. I was there for three nights in Sept and loved it. Have a great trip!

Tiller,
My trip report may be of use to you.http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34494897 feelfree to e-mail if you have questions.

Thanks to all for the input about whether to extend stay in Tuscany an
extra few nights in Colle Val d' Elsa
to be closer to visiting the towns in this area after a week near Pienza. I have read many postings about how lovely Val d'orcia is and thought it deserved a least a week to leisurely explore. Any comments regarding how the area around Colle and Sam Gimignano
compares to Pienza area would be appreciated, more industrial or just as
charming? I am still undecided whether to use those days we would spend around Colle and see the Amalfi Coast before our 3-4 nights in Rome? That would be Venice 2-3 nights, Val d'orica 7 nights (day trip to Florence)
3 nights Praiano, and 3-4 nights in Rome. May be too ambitious.

Hi Tiller,

I think you can reasonably do either, but - I would recommend saving the Amalfi Coast for another trip. Instead add a day to Venice (3 min) and a day or two to Rome.

While I love the Tuscan and Umbrian countryside, a week at at time is enough for me -- unless I was doing some activities like a cooking class or horseback riding, bike riding, etc.

Buon viaggio!

SusanP, Do you mind saying where you stayed in Pienza? We would like to stay
in town, I have looked at Il Giardino
Segreto (2 Bedroom apt) and Hotel Residence San Gregorio apt ( 1 bedroom and sleeper sofa) Am also considering
Poggiolo apts in Montepulciano, have read nice reviews.San Quirico looks interesting but accomodations with family are somewhat limited and out
of our budget. I have one teen daughter so being someplace where there is shopping is a plus. I don't know if you visited Montepulciano during your stay in Pienza, if so , how
did you compare them? Thanks for your feedback!

Tiller, can you tell me where you look for apts. online? We are also going to Tuscany in April, and I'd like to stay in one place for 3-4 nights.
Thanks.

http://www.agriturismo.net
http://www.agriturismo.com
http://www.tuscany.net
http://www.vacanzeverdi.com
http://www.agriturismo.regione.toscana.it

Hi again Tiller,

If you have a teenager who want to spend some serious shopping time, then Montepulciano is your town. It's one of the larger towns and lots of shops.

I stayed in Montalcino, much smaller and just what I wanted.

Tiller,

avoid Poggibonsi....we stayed in the Chianti area in an apartment last month and refer to Ponggibonsi as "city of ugly apartment buildings".

Melodie

To: InNeedOfAdvice Poster : re where to look
for apartments try also slowtravel.com
click on italy and vacation rentals. Lots of listings and reviews, also
trip advisor sometimes has customer
reviews on apartments as well as Venere.com. Beware, the possibilites seem endless.

Thanks Melodie for your reply to Chianti area, how close to Poggiobonsi
were you located?

Tiller, I did not stay in an apartment in Pienza, I stayed at Albergo Rutiliano, in Pienza but outside the town walls by a of couple blocks. I can highly recommend the place if you're interested in something other than an apartment. 50E for a single, I think the double is 100E, including a very nice buffet breakfast.

My room was large and airy with a decent size bathroom. In case it's something that's important to you, the elevator only goes to the first floor, where there are four rooms. They have their own parking and a nice pool, although early April might be too early for pool weather. They do not have 24-hour coverage at the desk, but there is a number you can call if you need something.

I had intended to go to Montepulicano from Pienza for a daytrip via bus (the bus stop is about a block from the hotel), but I had been in Italy for nine nights by that time and was tired, so I spent two whole days in Pienza. There is actually quite a bit to see there.

I had a driver when I left Pienza and we drove through Montepulciano the next day. It was VERY steep! Of course, I knew this ahead of time, but it is quite vertical. If that's something that is important to you, Pienza is fairly flat, except for a couple of things to see outside of town. Plenty of good restaurants and shopping (Pecorino cheese, Italian ceramics, olive wood stuff, herb mixtures for cooking, etc.) in Pienza as well.

I would note that Pienza is very quiet at night, no nightlife of any kind. I wasn't looking for that, so it wasn't a problem. It was one of my favorite parts of my trip.

Thank you Susan for your reply and insight on your experience in Pienza.
I have read very nice things about Pienza, but it is limited in lodgings for a family of four. I have looked into 2 bedroom apt in town Giardino Segreto through InTuscany.com and hotel
apt San Gregorio. Seems to be only two
accomodations to sleep four. Lots of places in the countryside, but thought we would enjoy walking to restaurants, breakfast in the morning, etc. I have read Montepulciano is very steep, unlike Pienza, but there are more accomodations for me, my husband, two
daughters. Renting 2 hotel rooms is very unlikely. Anyone with experience with San Gregorio or Guiardino Segreto
please reply! Thanks

SusanP:
Please tell me about the "not 24 hours". How do you get in at night?

For the Chianti part of your trip there's a huge amount of information here: www.greve-in-chianti.com . You need to stay in Chianti to visit both Florence and Volterra, as well as Chianti. Val d'Elsa is too far south.

JeanneB, You have a card key to get in the outside door of the hotel. I had a similar setup in Florence, and I have to say that I never had a bit of trouble getting the cards to work (like happens so often at hotels in the US, where card keys are usually very fussy).